Taipei Open 2025: Unnati Hooda and Ayush Shetty Delight India with Semi-Final Berths After Thrilling Wins

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Taipei Open 2025: India’s young badminton brigade delivered a stirring double delight at the Yonex Taipei Open 2025 on Friday as teenager Unnati Hooda and 20-year-old Ayush Shetty marched into the semi-finals, lighting up the day with grit, glory and promise.

On a day when Indian fans had much to cheer, Unnati, just 17, showed nerves of steel to edge out local favourite Hung Yi-Ting in a dramatic three-game thriller, 21-8, 19-21, 21-19, lasting 52 minutes.

The Hisar-born prodigy will now face the ultimate challenge in the form of top-seed Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan in the penultimate round. If Unnati’s win was a show of composure, Ayush Shetty’s was all about comeback character.

Up against Canadian seventh seed Brian Yang, the lanky 20-year-old lost the first game 16-21 before roaring back to snatch the next two 21-19, 21-14 in a pulsating display of fitness and firepower. This is Shetty’s second big scalp of the tournament, having stunned third seed Lee Chia Hao earlier in the week. The world No. 44 now awaits the winner between top seed Chou Tien Chen and Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah in the last four.

Unnati’s Composure in a Thriller

It was a rollercoaster contest for Unnati Hooda against Hung Yi-Ting, but the teenager never looked rattled. She blitzed through the opening game with a commanding 21-8 scoreline, dictating the tempo with swift court coverage and intelligent drops. Although she faltered in the second game, narrowly losing it 19-21, Unnati regrouped brilliantly in the decider. With the crowd firmly backing their home player, the Indian held her nerve in a see-saw third game to close it 21-19.

Ayush’s Grit Shines Through

For Ayush Shetty, the day marked a significant coming-of-age moment. After a sluggish start against the world No. 24 Brian Yang, the Indian youngster lifted his game several notches in the second game. Precise smashes, improved footwork, and unrelenting rallies wore down the Canadian, and Ayush sealed the win with a commanding 21-14 final game.

Bright Future Beckons

The twin semi-final entries mark a superb campaign for India’s rising stars at the Taipei Open. With both players punching above their weight, the spotlight now shifts to Saturday’s showdowns, where Unnati and Ayush will face elite opposition.

As Indian badminton continues its youthful resurgence, Friday was a clear signal that the next generation is ready to take the torch forward — one shuttle, one point, one victory at a time.